SPRING 2010

Bufflehead Pair is Best of Show in Maryland's Junior Duck Stamp Contest

The Federal Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is a dynamic arts curriculum that teaches wetlands and waterfowl conservation to students in kindergarten through high school with participants completing a Junior Duck Stamp design as their visual term papers.

This year’s Maryland Junior Duck Stamp Best of Show went to Shannon Liang, a 16-year old girl who attends the Washington Lu Yi Art Center in Germantown, MD. Her acrylic painting of a bufflehead pair is entitled "Out to Sea." This winning entry will go on to complete with winners from 51 other states and territories in the National Junior Duck Stamp competition on April 23 at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul, Minnesota for selection of the National Junior Duck Stamp design.

Bufflehead ducks painted by 16-year-old Shannon Liang.

The Maryland Duck Stamp program grew with addition of conservation messages that students submit with their entries. Using one or two sentences students pack a huge statement about what they understand about their wildlife, their environment and the importance of conservation. The winning conservation message was by Jason Chu, aged 7, who wrote "the beauty of nature in balance is a legacy we can pass on."

The Maryland Junior Duck Stamp program has several components. “Conservation on Canvas” is a workshop for educators to “teach teachers” how to bring the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Course Curriculum into their classrooms.

In addition, “Conservation on Canvas, Student Edition” is available to students in grades 6 and higher. Students receive instruction from professional wildlife artists, participate in activities designed to sharpen their observation skills and spend time drawing with guidance from artists.

Today more than students throughout the United States, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands submit entries to a state or territory Junior Duck Stamp Contest. Proceeds from the sales of Junior Duck Stamps support conservation education awards and scholarships.